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Fisherman's Bar Mai Khao offers fresh, theatrical outdoor Thai seafood with live music on a lawn patio — charming family vibe shadowed by elephant-side views
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Fisherman’s Bar (aka Mai Khao Garden and Seafood): fast take
Overall score in the dataset: 4.1/5 from 52 reviews. Multiple guests refer to the venue by different names on-site and online, including Mai Khao Garden and Seafood and Mai Khao Seafood, which creates identity confusion before you arrive.
What the place looks and feels like
- Open daily 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM.
- All seating is outdoors, split between a lawn and a covered patio.
- Some evenings feature live music, which several guests enjoyed.
- The lawn is kept in good condition and includes swings that appealed to families with small children.
- If you arrive via the Renaissance Hotel shuttle, the stop drops off very close by.
What reviewers actually ate and drank
Specific orders called out by guests include a passion fruit cocktail, tom kha soup and a pineapple fried rice presented inside a hollowed pineapple. Multiple accounts describe a broad seafood focus with live lobsters and prawns available, plus staples listed as pad thai, pattaya, mango salads, tom yum soup, deep fried fish and grilled prawns and lobsters.
Several reviewers praised the kitchen: flavors described as strong, dishes served quickly and seafood executed very well and fresh. One review, however, judged the food decent but not exceptional, introducing a real split in perceived quality.
Price and service: mixed signals you should expect
Price perceptions diverge in the reviews. One guest found prices reasonable compared with resorts nearby. Others explicitly warned that seafood is expensive in this area, noting live lobster and prawn plates that can exceed 100 USD per serve, and called the neighborhood generally pricey.
Service reports are inconsistent. Positive experiences include attentive staff who will box leftovers and go out of their way for families, including bringing out fruit early for a fussy child. A contrasting report describes a forgotten fish order and disorganized front-of-house handling, signaling variable execution between shifts or nights.
Elephants: family entertainment or an ethical red flag?
Guest accounts present a direct contradiction. One family described elephants coming right up to the restaurant at night for feeding and labeled that as kid-friendly entertainment. Another guest found the same proximity disheartening, observing repetitive bobbing and swaying that suggested stressed animals. The two perspectives coexist in the dataset and create a meaningful choice for visitors who care about animal welfare.
How to decide if this is for you
- Go if you prioritize fresh, simply prepared seafood and are willing to pay resort-area prices; several guests praised seafood quality.
- Consider alternatives if consistent, restaurant-level service or low prices are priorities; reviewers reported uneven service and a perception of high cost.
- If you visit with young children and value outdoor play space, this is worth considering because staff have been accommodating to families and the lawn includes swings.
- If animal welfare matters to you, factor in the proximity of elephant displays; guests disagree on whether this enhances or harms the experience.
Final practical tip
Bring insect repellent for the outdoor seating and plan evenings for live music and a livelier atmosphere.
Bottom line
Fisherman’s Bar sits somewhere between a resort-area seafood spot and a family-oriented outdoor venue: great seafood for some diners, uneven service for others, and an ethical decision point around nearby elephant displays. The venue earns repeat recommendations from at least one guest, but the split views on price, service and animal proximity make it a place to evaluate based on what you value most.
🕒 Opening Hours
8.16913, 98.297897
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